The Energy Economy

Recap: exactly three years ago today, Electric Gauchos (with the Seattle Electric Guitar Circle and the Atomic Chamber Ensemble) played an enfranchising show at Town Hall in Seattle.   This was a turning point for me, and the completion of a seven year cycle in Seattle of work with the Seattle Guitar Circle (1997-2004.)  This was also the beginning of a new cycle.    

Evening: SB Roadshow rehearsal in preparation for our show on Friday night.  My own impressions:

a) goodwill is in the air

b) we are getting tighter with this repertoire 

c) frequency of rehearsal is not necessarily related to our ability to be musical together

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Song of the Day 

The Energy Economy (13.7M) - Electric Gauchos from June 2004.

"The idea of ‘economy’ is perhaps easier to grasp when dealing with physical things, like, say money. Food is pretty easy: this sushi is worth about $15. Pretty easy to measure value just after a meal as the check arrives. It gets harder when applying it to intangibles. However, the same principles apply. What does it ‘cost’ to get up one hour earlier every day to practice before work? What does it ‘cost’ to trade that early morning hour for one hour less of evening relaxation or socialization or television? What does it ‘cost’ to believe you have enough skill, talent, and determination to be ‘successful’ at whatever you take on? What does it ‘cost’ to go to a meeting? What does it cost to let go?

Musically, this is one of the 'driving' improvisations that came out of Electric Gauchos studio work in June of 2004. Taking the 'driving' analogy further, around the same time this was recorded, I also became intrigued by the idea of using of "Electric Gauchos" on a sort of "inner-state" road sign logo giving us some indication of where we are and where we could be going -- of course, the road chosen depends upon who (if anyone is driving.)"

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Photo(s) of the Day

June 19th, 2004: Electric Gauchos (SB, Travis Metcalf, Fernando Samalea, Derek DiFilippo, and Fernando Kabusacki)

  
Display ad for the show by David LaVallee.

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Word(s) of the Day

en·fran·chise 
verb, transitive
en·fran·chised, en·fran·chis·ing, en·fran·chis·es

1. to bestow a franchise on

2. to endow with rights of citizenship, especially the right to vote

3. to free, as from bondage

[Middle English enfraunchisen, from Old French enfranchir, enfranchiss-, to set free : en-, intensive pref.. See en-1 + franchir (from franc, free). See frank1.]

Adding one more since definition #1 is rather recursive:

fran·chise
noun

1. a privilege or right officially granted a person or a group by a government

2. authorization granted to someone to sell or distribute a company's goods or services in a certain area

3. a business or group of businesses established or operated under such authorization

3. the territory or limits within which immunity, a privilege, or a right may be exercised

4. a professional sports team

[Middle English fraunchise, from Old French franchise, from franche feminine of franc, free, exempt. See frank1.]

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